diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Project.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Project.java
index 9f69a1d72..2d7ff60ea 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Project.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Project.java
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ import org.apache.tools.ant.util.StringUtils;
  *
  */
 public class Project implements ResourceFactory {
-    private static final String LINE_SEP = System.getProperty("line.separator");
-
     /** Message priority of "error". */
     public static final int MSG_ERR = 0;
     /** Message priority of "warning". */